Improvement in spring bed-bottoms



UNITED TA'IES JOHN A. REED'S, or KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING BED-BOTTOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,467, dated J une 6, 1876; application filed February 8, 187 6.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. Heaps, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring Bed -Bottom, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the construction of elastic bottoms for beds; and it consists in certain economical devices, hereinafter to be more. fully described and explained, for imparting strength, elasticity, and evenness of surface to the bed-bottom, and in certain adjustments adapting it for the use and comfort of the occupants, as will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view; and Figs. 2 and 3 sectional yiews, showing the adjustment of the supporting-springs and of the headrest.

A A are the railings, connected together at each end by the tranverse bars B B, which fit into shoulders cut in the ends of the railings, so as to be capable of resisting longitudinal tension, and further strengthened by metallic braces G, secured upon their upper sides. Running from end to endof the bed, and secured at each end to the transverse bars B, are strips of sheet metal D, which are sufficiently slack to allow their being thrust upward, to a certain extent, by the supporting-springs beneath. Firmly secured to the under sides of the railings AA are flat, transverse pieces E, which support the spiral springs F. Resting upon these spiral springs, which may be of any suitable or preferred number, are transverse bars or slats G G, over which pass the metal strips D, to which they are securely fastened. The tension of the metal strips will be in proportion to the upward thrust of the springs. In the flat piecesE are adjustment-holes e, to permit the shifting of the springs from side to side, to adjust the support to the weight of the persons lying upon the bed as, for example,

when a child and a grown person are lying upon it, the greater number of springs may be shifted to the side on which the larger and heavier of the two is to lie, and its lower end secured in one of the holes 0. To the transverse pieces G G is secured a second set of metallic strips, D, between every two of the strips D, and running parallel therewith. .These strips extend upward as far as the head of the bed-frame, where their upper ends are secured to a head-piece, I, which is free to move up and down independently of the bed-frame, and is provided with legs K at each end, the lower extremities of which are set into a rack, L, on the inner side of the railings, so as to permit the height of the head-rest to be adjusted to the comfort and convenience of the occupants, the flexible strips D serving as hinges. The legs K being so proportioned as to be always at an incline, it is manifest that the tension of strips D, and consequently the firmness of the headrest, are in proportion to theweight sustained by it. The head-rest may be laid flat, if desired, in which case the strips Dand Dforin,in conjunction, a doubly strong support for the head and shoulders, as they also do at all times for the middle of the bed, where the strongest support is required. The transverse slat-bars G G may be made of metal, and obtain a good advantage in using thin bedding, and,in which case,thespiral springs may be increased in number.

I claim- 1. The bed-frame A B, provided with the sheet-metal strips D, secured at each end to the cross-pieces of the frame, in combination with transverse bars E, slats G G, and springs F, substantially as and for-the purpose set forth.

2. The sheet-metal strips D, having their lower portions secured to bars G G, for the purpose of strengthening the middle of the bed, and their upper ends secured to an independent cross-piece,- I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an article of manufacture, the herein -described bed-bottom, consisting of the frame A B, provided with transverse supporting-bars E, metal strips D, running longitudinally of the frame, and secured thereto at each end, supporting-springs F, transverse slats G G, and re-enforcing metal strips D, secured to an adjustable head-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. REEDS.

Witnesses:

E. A. ANDREWS, O. H. DEAN. 

